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Mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications of the cannabis plant

Edited by:

Simon Erridge, BSc, MBBS, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Professor Karina Ckless, PhD, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, United States
Santosh Kumar Singh, PhD, Morehouse School of Medicine, United States

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 22 October 2025
 

Journal of Cannabis Research is calling for submissions to our Collection on the Mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications of the cannabis plant.


Image credit: © LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / stock.adobe.com.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. 

Meet the Guest Editors

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Simon Erridge, BSc, MBBSPhD, Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Dr Simon Erridge is a Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London within the Medical Cannabis Research Group. He is also the Research Director at Curaleaf Clinic. Dr Erridge is a medical doctor, graduating from Imperial College London in 2018 with Distinction in Clinical Practice and Clinical Science. He also completed an intercalated BSc in Surgery and Anaesthesia. Dr Simon Erridge has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles. 

He is currently completing a PhD studying the effects of medical cannabis on chronic pain. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cannabis Research. 

Professor Karina Ckless, PhD, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, United States

 Dr. Karina Ckless has a PhD in Biochemistry from UFRGS – Brazil and currently she is a professor of Biochemistry and co-chair of the department at SUNY Plattsburgh (NY, USA), where she also coordinates the new Cannabis Chemistry and Therapeutics Certificate Programs. Dr. Ckless’s expertise includes biochemistry, nanotechnology, redox biology, and cellular and molecular immunology. Her primary research focuses on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their roles in cell signaling, particularly within inflammatory processes. Recently, she has been exploring the anti-inflammatory and redox-modulating properties of cannabis, with an emphasis on its potential therapeutic applications. Her research has led to numerous publications in redox biology and nanotechnology, and she has served as principal investigator on various grants, including from National Science Foundation (NSF). She also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Cannabis Research. 

Santosh Kumar Singh, PhD, Morehouse School of Medicine, United States

Dr. Santosh Kumar Singh, an Instructor at Morehouse School of Medicine, earned his Doctorate in Biotechnology from Banasthali Vidyapith University in 2015. He specializes in cancer biology, focusing on prostate cancer therapy using natural compounds and nanomedicine. His research addresses challenges like low bioavailability by using nanocarriers. Dr. Singh has received grants from the ACS and NCI, teaches a master's course on Medical Cannabis, and serves on editorial boards of cancer journals. He is a member of several scientific societies and aims to improve patient survival through targeted natural compounds. 

About the Collection

This Special Collection of the Journal of Cannabis Research delves into the intricate world of cannabis, exploring the multifaceted mechanisms through which its diverse array of compounds interact with the human body and their potential therapeutic benefits. Cannabis, a plant with a long and complex history of human use, has garnered significant attention in recent years from the scientific community due to its potential to treat a wide range of medical conditions. This renewed interest has led to a surge in research aimed at elucidating the complex interplay between cannabis compounds and human physiology.

The Collection will focus on the following key areas:
• Phytochemical diversity: A comprehensive examination of the various cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in cannabis, exploring their individual properties and potential synergistic effects. This includes investigations into the unique chemical profiles of different cannabis chemovars and their potential therapeutic applications. 
• Endocannabinoid system and non-endocannabinoid interactions: A detailed analysis of how cannabis compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system and the broad range of receptors or neurotransmitters beyond the endocannabinoid system as well. 
• Pharmacological effects: An exploration of the diverse pharmacological effects of cannabis, including its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antiemetic, and neuroprotective properties. This includes preclinical and clinical studies investigating the therapeutic potential of cannabis for various conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, anxiety disorders, and cancer.
• Therapeutic applications: A critical evaluation of the current clinical evidence supporting the use of cannabis for specific medical conditions. This includes systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of cannabis-based therapies.
• Drug development and delivery systems: An examination of the latest advancements in cannabis-based drug development, including novel formulations, delivery systems, and personalized approaches to cannabis therapy. This includes research on synthetic cannabinoids, targeted drug delivery, and the development of standardized cannabis extracts. 

Possible topics to be included: 
• The role of the endocannabinoid system in health and disease 
• The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for neurological disorders
• Cannabis and mental health: implications for anxiety, depression, and PTSD 
• The use of cannabis in palliative care and cancer treatment 
• Cannabis-based drug development and clinical trials. 

This Special Collection provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications of the cannabis plant. By bringing together innovative research from leading experts in the field, we hope to stimulate further inquiry and contribute to the development of safe and effective cannabis-based therapies for the benefit of patients worldwide.  

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of Original research, Commentaries, and Reviews. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. 

Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. Please, select the appropriate Collection title “Mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications of the cannabis plant" under the “Details” tab during the submission stage.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer-review process. However, Dr. Erridge has a competing interest due to his affiliation with the commercial cannabis company Curaleaf. The peer-review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.